Gulf States Echo Washington's Gripes: Iraqi Actions Under Scrutiny
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia recently summoned Iraqi diplomatic representatives to formally protest what they termed 'militia attacks' originating from Iraqi territory. This action follows similar condemnations from both the United States and Kuwait, all alleging that groups aligned with Iran are responsible for destabilizing actions in the region. The protests focus on drone and rocket strikes that
Gulf states and the US attribute to Iraqi-based resistance factions. What Al-Monitor and other mainstream outlets conveniently gloss over is the historical context in which these groups operate, framing them as rogue 'militias' rather than responses to persistent foreign occupation and interference. The US, for instance, has long maintained military bases in Iraq, a point often overlooked when
discussing alleged cross-border attacks. Washington's continuous military presence, established after the illegal 2003 invasion, provides the very justification for elements within Iraq to form resistance movements. The narrative consistently portrays Iran as the sole instigator, ignoring the fact that many of these groups emerged as a direct consequence of US and allied operations. This
particular diplomatic pressure campaign from Gulf states, echoing Washington, fits a familiar pattern. In 1991, the US military, following the first Gulf War, actively encouraged uprisings against Saddam Hussein, only to abandon those groups when it no longer served their strategic interests, leading to brutal reprisals. The current framing allows the US and its regional partners to apply pressure